It often feels like forever waiting for football season to come around and just like that it’s over.

The last 10 weeks have flown by and it is finally time to crown the 2009 Power Rankings champion.

I want to take this time to thank the coaches. Without your help, we wouldn’t have a stat box in the Game Day section, the covers wouldn’t have local athletes pictured and our stories would be much less insightful. I know it can’t be fun to have a microphone stuck in your face after a tough loss but almost without fail you all took the time to talk about your kids and help them get some exposure. Thank you for everything.

As for the poll, Minford took the top spot for good in the seventh edition and their 8-2 season, playoff berth and outright SOC II title all add up to one thing — the honorary title of 2009 Power Poll Champions.

Congrats Falcons, you earned it.

2009 Power Rankings

1. Minford (1) 8-2

Oak Hill was the only team to beat Minford this year and based on the way the Falcons finished out the season, it’s hard to believe that wasn’t a bit of an anomaly.

The Falcons beat all the top teams of the SOC II and had an impressive win over Coal Grove as well. The Hornets and Wheelersburg — both teams Minford beat — will also be in the playoffs.

The Falcons played a solid schedule and played well all year. Congratulations Minford on a great season and good luck this Friday.

The Falcons will host Ridgewood in Minford for their first round playoff game.

2. Wheelersburg (2) 8-2

Wheelersburg had another solid year. While the SOC title went to Minford the Pirates were in the running all the way into the final week of the season. The record earned them a playoff spot and their only losses came to this poll’s No. 1 team and Ironton (who probably would be the No. 1 team were they included).

The Pirates are good every year. This year’s team has speed and power. They can run and pass. They play tight defense and the playoffs are like second nature as often as they make it in.

Wheelersburg will play Woodsfield Monroe Central this Friday at Marietta College.

3. Oak Hill (3) 10-0

Oak Hill had a season to be proud of. The mighty Oaks chopped down every team put in front of them. It hurts a little to not put the poll’s only undefeated team at No. 1, but I can’t help but wonder what the Oaks’ record would have been against the schedule Minford and Wheelersburg played. The win over Minford showed the Oaks are for real but of their opponents, only the Falcons, Trimble (6-4) and Symmes Valley (8-2) had winning records.

The Pirates and the Falcons each played five teams with winning records.

Nevertheless the 2009 Oaks are just the second undefeated team in school history and the first team to win the SOC I or make the playoffs.

If I were Coal Grove, I might be a little nervous. The Oaks are simply on a roll.

4. Portsmouth (4) 7-3

Pardon my language, but the Trojans butt-kicking of Western Brown last week was a nice way to end the season.

The only thing nicer would have been a playoff berth. Trojan fans can look back at that one-point, last-second loss to Jackson and think “what if” all they want, but I don’t recommend dwelling on that.

Put the focus on this — Portsmouth went 1-9 last season and this year was in the playoff hunt in week 10. They finished 7-3 for one of the best single-season turnarounds in school history. Curt Clifford and the rest of that coaching staff should be commended for skipping the rebuilding year and jumping right back into contention, finishing the power poll as the highest-ranked non-playoff team.

It was a great season for Portsmouth and a great way to break in the new stadium.

5. Symmes Valley (7) 8-2

It may be a little bit of a stretch to put the Vikings in the top five. But using the same logic that puts Oak Hill No. 3 — flat out winning football games — and by making the playoffs, the Vikings get a bump.

They were also helped by losses by West and Valley this week.

The Vikings just snuck into the Division VI playoffs by percentage points but that’s all it takes. Coach Rusty Webb continues to do a great job making a small-school football team do big things.

6. Valley (5) 7-3

The Indians were so close to their first share of an SOC II title they could probably feel the golden football in their grasp. Minford had other ideas however and Valley’s season ends at 7-3. It was still a good year for Valley with conference wins over West, Waverly and Northwest and a phenomenal 7-1 start.

It was likely never a question of whether or not Valley belonged in the SOC II but just in case, this season the Indians made it very clear that this is where they belong and that it is somewhere they can compete.

Also a correction: a reporter incorrectly stated that Valley and Wheelersburg tied for second in the SOC II. The SOC II correct order of finish is: Minford, Wheelersburg, Valley, West, Waverly, Northwest.

7. West (6) 6-4

West had an outside shot at the playoffs going into the final week but ran into a Wheelersburg team that seems to be peaking at the right time.

It was still a good season for a young West team that will bring back a lot of players next season.

West had a great non-conference season but struggled against the top teams in the SOC II.

West proved a tough team to every opponent this season, losing by more than four points just twice.

8. Waverly (9) 4-6

Kudos to the Tigers for finishing the season strong. The Tigers were probably healthy for four or five weeks this season and they won four games.

This season will leave a lot of Tiger faithful wondering what might have been but it was nice to see Waverly’s seniors go out with a win.

9. Notre Dame (10) 4-6

Notre Dame knocked off East last week in what was a little bit of an upset. Brock Hannah threw the ball well and the Titans showed off their passing attack for essentially the first time since their win in week one.

Notre Dame always plays hard and always plays with class. Sometimes though hard work isn’t quite enough to win.

10. East (8) 5-5

Well East’s seniors never had a losing season. That is an accomplishment. Still going 5-5 after going 10-0 and 9-1 the two previous years is a bit of a let down.

Football goes in cycles and this year belonged to the Oaks in the SOC I. Kudos to East’s seniors though.

11. Northwest (11) 2-8

While the year may have started strong for Northwest it didn’t end that way. The Mohawks won two of their first four games but never won again. On top of that, Northwest gave up 39 or more points to every SOC II opponent it faced this season.

There was definite improvement in McDermott this year. The Mohawks did win two games and they were competitive in a few.

12. Green (12) 2-8

Green is the only team in the poll whose beaten opponents didn’t beat anyone themselves. The Bobcats struggled to hold on to the ball at times but otherwise looked like a competitive team.

For Green and the rest of the teams that missed out on the postseason there is still solace in one thing — there’s always next year.

JOHN STEGEMAN can be reached at jstegeman02@hotmail.com